The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), in conjunction with Cabela’s, presented the second annual Louisiana Women in the Wild-Hunting Basics Workshop on Saturday, Aug. 25 at the Waddill Outdoor Education Center in Baton Rouge.

Twenty seven participants received a full day of instruction on the basics of hunting from LDWF Education Section staff members and Hunter Ed volunteer instructors.

The eight-hour workshop focused on wildlife conservation through our hunting heritage, types of hunting available in Louisiana, hunting opportunities on public land, safe hunting and firearm skills, scouting and blood trailing, rifle and shotgun shooting techniques, and archery. In addition, tree stand safety and duck hunting demonstrations were provided, followed by a game cleaning session at the end of the day-long workshop.

The activities offered hands-on practice time for every participant and each one received complimentary outdoor items from Cabela’s. Sample wild game dishes were also provided for attendees at the end of the day, basically bringing the participants from classroom, to field, to table in their learning of basic hunting skills and enjoyment of wild game.

During the 2012-13 hunting season, workshop participants will be eligible to participate in deer or duck hunts that will be conducted on Tensas National Wildlife Refuge, Atchafalaya Delta WMA, or Pass-a-Loutre WMA. The program was established to develop new hunters by providing women the basic skills and confidence they need to venture afield and become active hunters with family and friends.

For more information on future workshops, contact Gene Cavalier at 985-882-9159 or gcavalier@wlf.la.gov, or Karen Crabtree at 318-766-8144 orkedwards@wlf.la.gov .